UNDER MY SPELL
Here we go again…A couple more chapters ought to do it. Wait, stop the presses! What's this? Miss Zippitydodah now owns HP because JKR hasn't come out with the fifth book yet? No, wait…that's just in my dreams…
CHAPTER TEN: SECRETS REVEALED
Moonlight cascaded over the balcony at midnight. Hermione was sitting outside in her robe, watching the ocean. The waves lapped on the beaches with that gentle whooshing sound, and some stray gulls cawed and swooped over the water. A slight breeze spread the heavy scent of flowers and fruits around, and she could almost hear music in the wind.
It was sunny every day, warm and happy. The sky was always picture-perfect-blue, with wispy clouds that floated around in amusing shapes for the sunbathers to look at. The sand was deep and tickled your feet when you ran across the beach barefoot. A thousand stars twinkled on the velvety sky at night, and Hermione liked to sit on the balcony and recall the constellations from astronomy class at school. She was terribly sad that they'd be leaving tomorrow.
The wedding had been beautiful. They'd stopped off in Cardiff, Wales at a little jewelry shop to buy their rings. Hermione's was a silver band with a simple, beautiful diamond, and Ron's was a thick silver band alone. She'd bought a simple white gown, and they'd wedded on the beach during sunset. Hermione had always imagined having a big wedding, in a church at home. Lots of people watching, all of her friends as her bridesmaids, and her father leading her down the aisle. But this was so much better.
She pulled her satin robe closer and wished again that they could stay longer. But practicality had gotten the better of her. They'd spent eleven days on St. John, and she had to get back to work. And as much as Ron whined about it, he needed to get back too. They'd need to work out the living arrangements and start their life together. That was the most beautiful thought.
"Hermione?" Came Ron's sleepy voice. "Where are you?"
"Out here," she said, turning in her chair. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as Ron came out onto the balcony.
"What are you doing out here?" She stood and he sat in her chair, then she sat in his lap and cuddled her head in the crook of his neck.
"Just looking."
"Oh. Sad that we have to leave tomorrow afternoon?"
"Quite. I wish we could stay longer, but…we have to get back and set things right."
"How do you mean?"
"Well," Hermione started, "where are we going to live, to start? We took off so fast; we didn't think things through…"
"Any regrets?" Ron held her closer and hoped she didn't regret this marriage. What if we've rushed in too fast? Hell, too fast? We've been dating for nine years, and I've liked her since…well, since we were eleven.
Hermione paused. I've been in love with him for so long. We've always been great friends. I'm happier than I've ever been.
"Just one," she replied.
Ron swallowed, and tried to keep his voice calm. "What?"
"That we didn't do this sooner."
***
Harry and Ginny spent most of the day Thursday getting ready for Hermione and Ron's return. There were people to owl, decorations to put up, and details to iron out.
"You know what Harry?" Ginny said, magically inflating some balloons.
"What Ginny?" Harry asked. He was making out an owl to Fred and Angelina to arrive early.
"Maybe I should just move back to the Burrow until the wedding. Hermione and Ron should have the house. I mean, Hermione did cover the down payment and she's invested a lot more time in the place than I have. And it isn't like I could move into your rooms at Hogwarts because that wouldn't bode well with the staff. So, this is the easiest way, right? And then we can pick out a place of our own."
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Gin. How would you like to design your own house?"
"Well sure I would, that would be wonderful but—" Ginny stopped. "Harry, you didn't."
Harry gave a grin reminiscent of one of the Weasley twins. "Didn't what?"
"You—did you buy a plot of land? For us?"
"Maybe. Is that something you'd want?" Harry was enjoying the good tease.
"Are you crazy? Of course! So, did you? Where is it?" Ginny was grasping his shoulders jumping up and down.
"Yes, I did. Although I only put a down payment on it, so you could look at it first, to be sure you like it. It's right here in Hogsmeade. You know the road off of Archness Drive? It's down there, in the field. Not too far away, so we'll be neighbors with Hermione and Ron. And you'll design the house any way you like." Harry put his hands on her shoulders and stopped her jumping. He looked into her vibrant eyes, and turned serious. "Are you happy, Ginny?"
Ginny nearly laughed the question off, but then she saw the shadow in his emerald eyes. "Yes Harry. I'm going to marry you in a few months, why wouldn't I be happy?"
He looked as if he was going to protest, but she held up a hand. "Harry, this is the last time I'm going to say this, so listen up. Remember the time we walked in the rain seventh year and you told me you didn't want me to spy for Dumbledore? This is like that. I love you, you love me, so can't we make it as simple as that? You don't have to be a martyr darling, and no on is asking you to be. You can just be a normal man in love with a woman. You can just be Harry Potter. Not the boy who lived or the one who helped defeat Voldemort, but Harry Potter, the man I love. You have to stop second guessing yourself." She ran her knuckles across his jaw.
He sighed. How did she always know what he was thinking? He wondered if it was humanly possible to love her as much as he did.
Harry nodded. I love you Ginny. And it is as simple as that. I just—worry about you."
"You don't have to. You just have to trust me." She gave him a quick hug and then turned to survey the living room once again. "Okay lover boy, we need to get back to work."
***
Draco checked his watch and decided it was time to prepare for the party. He checked his closet for something to wear, and then remembered that it hardly mattered. He would fulfill the thing that he had dreamt of since he was a little boy. Today he would betray Harry Potter.
He knew it should be simple, effortless. But there was this feeling stirring inside him that he didn't want to recognize as guilt. He ran his hands through his greasy hair and took a deep breath. All he had to do was lure Potter to the portkey outside of Ginny and Hermione's house and to his employer's office. Then, presumably, his boss would finish the job. He shuddered. What did his boss really have in mind for Potter? He knew it had to do with revenge, but Draco thought his boss was taking it a little too far. But there was money on the line, and the chance to ruin Potter once and for all. But was that really what he wanted anymore?
Draco wandered into his bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. After carelessly running a comb through his hair, he gathered his wand and Apparated to Hogsmeade.
The sun hung low in the sky and the temperature was dropping. Draco hugged his cloak tighter and the crunching of his boots in the fresh snow was the only sound. He stopped in front of the yellow house with its pristine black trim. He deposited the soda can that would be the portkey in the garden. In the summer, he imagined the gardens were lush with colorful blooms, but now, the only part of the yard visible was the shoveled stone path leading to the door. He took a deep breath of the frigid air and proceeded up the path and knocked on the door.
Ginny, looking flushed and excited, opened the door. His heart felt light when her expression didn't fall, but stayed cheerful at the sight of him. Then he remembered his task for the evening and his heart fell to his stomach.
"Draco, come on in. It must be freezing out there." She opened the door wider and ushered him in, taking his cloak. "Would you like a butterbeer or something?"
"Do you have coffee?"
"Sure." She hung up his cloak in the hall closet and called through the kitchen door, "Harry, put on some coffee, would you darling? Draco's here."
Harry stuck his head out of the kitchen. He was wearing an apron that read "Kiss the Cook" and potholders on his hands. He looked so utterly ridiculous, Draco laughed at him.
"What are you up to in that ensemble, Potter?"
Harry noted there was no hatred in his voice, no malice, no cold humor. It was merely a joke among friends. Funny how things can change so fast, Harry mused.
"Just cooking a welcome home cake for the bride and groom. Chocolate with vanilla frosting. Angelina and Fred should be here soon, but George and Katie had an appointment, so they'll be here a little later." The doorbell rang. "I wonder who that is? Gin, who else did you tell to come early?"
Ginny looked puzzled. "I don't think anyone. The rest of my brothers were coming at seven, along with the guests." She shrugged as the doorbell chimed again. "Only one way to find out."
Ginny opened the door and Draco's first thought was that he had died and was seeing an angel. A woman stood in the doorway, with dark blonde hair that hung at her shoulders and deep blue robes. She was simply beautiful, and Draco caught the air of confidence and charisma.
"Belle! How nice of you to come! I wasn't sure if you'd gotten my owl," Ginny said as she took Belle's cloak.
"Yes, sorry about not replying, but I was so excited and all, I simply didn't have time. I had to make a lot of arrangements before I took off."
"I can only imagine. Business going well then?" Ginny asked.
"Very. It's a very harrowing experience, but well worth the effort." Her gaze landed on Draco, and she raised an eyebrow at Ginny.
Ginny took the hint. "Draco Malfoy, this is Belle d'Lamartine. Belle, Draco."
Belle put out her hand but instead of shaking it, Draco kissed it. "Belle d'Lamartine, as in d'Lamartine Designs in London?"
"The very same," Belle answered. "I don't think you remember me from school."
"I never forget a pretty face," Draco answered smoothly. Inside, he was shaking. Why would someone like her be interested in someone like me? He thought.
Ginny looked from one to the other. This could be interesting, she thought. "Excuse me for a minute guys. I have to…go check on Harry and…the coffee."
At seven o'clock sharp, the rest of the guests arrived. Fred and Angelina greeted them while Ginny and Harry finished frosting the cake, and Draco and Belle sat on the sofa talking. Hermione and Ron were expected at about half past.
Lavender shuffled around, Parvati at her heels, asking Ginny if there was anything she could do. "Anything at all, Gin, just let me know. Do you need someone to bring out the food, keep a watch at the door, maybe?"
"Lavender, everything is under control. Harry's taking care of the cake, Fred is watching the door. Parvati, get her to sit still!"
"I can't Gin, I can't. Okay, I have something to tell you." Lavender paused. "I'm pregnant. Six weeks along."
"Lavender! That's wonderful! What a night, newlyweds and a new baby!" Ginny exclaimed.
Seamus came up and wrapped his arms around his wife. "I guess you told her." He said. "Yes. Want something to drink, dear?"
"I'll have a tequila, hun. Thanks." He kissed her cheek.
Lavender walked to the kitchen, and Ginny scolded Seamus. "You should be getting her drinks, Seamus. A hop cup of tea, and have her put her feet up." She said with hands on hip.
"Hey, it isn't my fault! She's been antsy lately. She has to have something to do all the time."
"Hey everyone! They just Apparated outside!" Fred yelled. He flicked his wand and the lights went out. "Sub oculos non cadere!" Everyone in the living room became invisible, as well as the food.
They heard the click of a key in the lock, then Hermione pushed opened the door. Ron followed carrying a suitcase. She clicked on a light, and everyone reappeared and yelled "Surprise!"
Ron dropped the luggage and Hermione let out a small squeal.
"Congratulations you two!" Ginny said. She rushed over to embrace her brother and her new sister-in-law.
"Oh Ginny! Did you plan all this?" Hermione wiped a tear from her eye.
"Well, I can't take all the credit. Harry and Fred helped."
"Where is Harry?" Ron asked.
"Right here," Harry said as he made his way slowly into the living room with the cake.
"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed. "Look at this Ron," she whispered. "All these people went to so much trouble to be here."
Lavender was standing nearby and heard. "No trouble at all, Hermione. If you'd have invited us to your wedding, we might not have thrown you a party."
"Well, you caught us," Ron said. "That's why we eloped. So you'd throw us a welcome home party." He laughed.
"That's our 'ickle Ronniekins, the schemer." Charlie laughed.
"Even Belle made time in her busy schedule to be here. It's the event of the century," Lavender added.
"Belle's here?" Hermione asked, eyes scanning the room. She spotted her in a corner with Draco.
"Belle! I haven't seen you in ages!" Hermione rushed over to hug her friend.
"Hermione! Congratulations, darling! Although we all knew it was coming." Belle smiled and squeezed Hermione's shoulder.
She blushed. "Yes, well…" Then she spotted Draco, standing politely a few steps away. "Draco, how nice of you to come."
"Lovely to be here, Hermione." He kissed her hand as he had done Belle's earlier, but with less…verve. Hermione had never quite warmed up to him as much as the rest had.
The celebration continues until very late. Draco figured the later it got, the more drunk Potter would get, and the easier it would be to lure him away.
Ron laughed in a group with his brothers, tossing back a brandy or four, while Ginny tried to start picking up the house at about eleven thirty.
She carried some dirty glasses into the kitchen and found Hermione, Lavender, Parvati, and Belle sitting at the kitchen table kicking back margaritas.
"Lavender, you shouldn't be drinking."
"I'm not, Gin. It's tea."
"Okay then." She put the glasses in the sink, and with a swish of her wand, they started washing themselves and putting themselves back in the cupboards.
"We were just getting Hermione to give us the skinny on her honeymoon. She's being very stingy with details," Belle accused.
"I can't imagine Ginny wants to hear anything like that about her brother," Hermione said, taking a sip of her salty drink.
"On the contrary." Ginny sat in a vacant seat. "Spill."
"Oh, for goodness' sakes. I can't—I couldn't possibly…"
"C'mon Hermione," Parvati whined.
"Fine, all right then." Ginny noted that Hermione had to be half drunk; otherwise she'd never be having this conversation.
"Of course, it wasn't the first time. I never told anyone this, but three years ago, Ron and I went out dancing, and I don't know what came over me…we got very drunk—quite by accident—and he spent the night here." She giggled and nearly spilled her drink.
"That's it? For three years, nothing?" Lavender frowned.
Hermione pursed her lips. "What do you take me for, some sort of…scarlet woman?" She giggled some more and took another swig. "And anyway, there was just a couple more times."
"So…you going to share the rest?" Belle asked slyly, and refilled her glass. Ginny noted that the rest of the women's glasses were untouched, but Hermione seemed to be on her fourth or fifth one. They got her sloshed.
"Sure, what the hell?" Hermione slurred. "It was Halloween and I was kind of depressed, and when I got home from work, he let himself into the house—"
"Whoa, was this little escapade this Halloween? The day of my engagement party?" Ginny was a little…taken aback.
Hermione furrowed her brows, and nodded. "Yes, yes it was."
"Ugh."
"So anyway…he came over and we went for a ride on his new Nimbus, and then we kind of…just…well…"
The other women were getting a big kick out of getting Hermione drunk. Ginny wasn't going to let this go on much longer. Well, maybe just a little longer.
"And then we got married," Hermione finished.
Belle, Parvati, Lavender, and Ginny burst into laughter. Hermione looked slightly confused, and then the kitchen door swung open to reveal Harry and Ron.
"What are you all up to in here?" Ron asked, bringing in some dirty plates.
"Gossip," Lavender answered.
"I was just telling the girls about our honeymoon." Hermione tried to get up, but she stumbled and had to stable herself on the edge of the table. She shook her head and continued, "They wanted to know all about it. And I shared all of the details." She crossed the kitchen, but midway she tripped and fell neatly into his arms.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Ron demanded.
"She's very drunk, Ron," Harry noted. He tried desperately not to laugh. He'd never seen Hermione drunk. It certainly wasn't an everyday occurrence.
"I can see that," Ron hissed. "Do you feel all right, Hermione?" he asked gently.
"Never better, darling, never better. Shall we, take off now?" She ran a line of steamy kisses down his neck.
He held her off. "Calm down a minute. Let me help you upstairs. You need to sleep it off."
"I don't need to sleep," she protested.
"Oh yes you do." He scooped her up into his arms. "Party's over for you."
"How romantic. You know, you forgot to carry me over the threshold." She swung her head back and looked back at the girls. "Goodnight, ladies."
Ron winced at her liquor scented breath. "I'll be right back," he said.
Draco had surveyed the scene from the doorway. That took care of Hermione. She was the one he was most worried about. Now she was out of the way. And he had a window of a few minutes while Ron was upstairs. The time had come. It was now or never.
"Harry, can I speak to you for a moment?" Draco asked.
Harry was still laughing as he watched Ron ascend the stairs, a happily drunk Hermione swinging her legs as they went. "Yeah, sure Draco."
Harry followed Draco back into the living room. "In private, if possible?"
"Sure. Here, let's go outside," Harry offered.
This was so much easier than Draco had imagined. He slipped out the front door discreetly behind Potter.
The crescent moon hung high in the starry sky. Draco watched his breath puff out in front of him as he made his way to the gate, and the old soda can.
"What is it, Draco? Nothing bad, I hope." Harry offered an uncertain grin.
"Listen Harry, I'm really sorry about this. Petrificus Totalus!" Harry's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board.* It was the full Body-Bind. He touched Harry's arm and then the soda can, and he felt the familiar tug-behind-the-navel as he was transported to his boss's office.
"Ah, Draco. You made it."
Draco merely nodded as he brushed himself off.
"How's Potter?"
"Just a Body-Bind. Shall I undo it?"
"Please do."
Draco preformed the counter charm, and Harry winced as he regained movement in his limbs. He rubbed his hands over his eyes, and then attempted to stand.
"Draco, what the hell was that?" He sent a glare in Draco's direction, and then he stopped short. His gaze landed on Draco's boss, and some stray pieces fell into place.
"Cho Chang?"
Can you believe it took me a month to post this? So sorry. Well, I'll certainly explain everything in the next chapter, but I thought this would be a good cliffhanger for now.
*Copied it right out of the first book. Not mine.
I'm so excited about the next book coming out!!! Yippee! It will change the world of fanfiction forever…